Mobile COVID-19 Testing Offered in Lake County
Lake County, Ill. —The Lake County Health Department is announcing that free Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) testing is coming to Mundelein and Highland Park. A mobile testing unit managed by the Illinois Department of Public Health will be stationed in the county according to the following schedule:
Thursday, 4/8, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mundelein Metra Station
205 N Archer Ave., Mundelein
Friday, 4/9, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Highland Park Metra Station
1700 St. John’s Ave., Highland Park
Thursday, 4/15, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mundelein Metra Station
205 N Archer Ave., Mundelein
Friday, 4/16, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Highland Park Metra Station
1700 St. John’s Ave., Highland Park
Know Before You Go
Testing is free and open to all regardless of symptoms. A phone number and name are required in order to receive testing results. Photo identification and proof of insurance are helpful, but not required. High demand for testing may result in long wait times. Testing locations may close early due to inclement weather or if daily testing supplies are exhausted.
Those utilizing drive-thru testing must be seated at a functioning window. Once you get in line at the site, you will not be permitted to exit your car. All sites will also accommodate walk-up individuals. Only viral testing is provided at the mobile testing site.
Other Testing Options
State-run Community-Based Testing Sites, located in Waukegan (102 W. Water St.) and Arlington Heights (2000 W Euclid Ave.) are now open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Testing at these sites is free. For more information, visit the IDPH website at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-sites.
Many healthcare providers in Lake County also have COVID-19 testing available. Please contact your provider or the facility to ask about testing criteria and appointment availability. Residents without a healthcare provider or insurance can contact the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center for an appointment at (847) 377-8800.
Types of Testing
Viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is a molecular test that detects the virus’s genetic material, and is used to diagnose a current COVID-19 infection. A swab of the nasopharynx (the part of the throat behind the nose), nose, or throat is collected. This is the only type of test offered at the IDPH mobile testing site and at state-run Community-Based Testing Sites.
Antigen testing detects specific proteins from the virus, and is used to identify a current COVID-19 infection. A swab of the nasopharynx (the part of the throat behind the nose) or nose, or saliva is collected. Results are available in as little as 15 minutes, but antigen tests are more likely to miss an active COVID-19 infection compared to the PCR, especially if the person tested has no symptoms.
Antibody (serology) testing, a blood test, might tell you if you had a past infection and may not detect current COVID-19 infection, so it is NOT an appropriate test for someone who is currently in quarantine for potential COVID-19 exposure.
If you are told to quarantine for 10 or 14 days due to a potential exposure to an infected person, a negative COVID-19 test result does not shorten your quarantine period. The virus can take up to 14 days to be detectable in the body by a test, so it is important to continue the quarantine period while monitoring for symptoms.
Additional Information
All residents are urged to continue to follow the 3 Ws to slow the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands
- Watch your distance
The Lake County Health Department reported Lake County’s first COVID-19 case on March 11, 2020. As of April 6, 2021, 57,216 Lake County residents have tested positive for the disease, including 951 deaths. The Lake County recovery rate is 98 percent. For more details, please visit the Coronavirus Data Hub, which is updated daily Mondays through Fridays at https://www.lakecountyil.gov/COVID19data.
Visit the Health Department’s Coronavirus web page, www.lakecountyil.gov/coronavirus, for updates, testing information, community guidance and resources, answers to frequently asked questions, and to sign up for the Health Department’s weekly COVID-19 newsletter. General questions can be sent via email to covid19@lakecountyil.gov.
For trusted information on the COVID-19 pandemic from reputable state and federal sources, visit the State of Illinois, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites.
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